We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danny Jensen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Danny, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
When I set out on my career path, I never imagined that I would become an author of multiple books or join the Board of the Los Angeles City Historical Society.
I moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, having acted in New York and regionally after graduating from Vassar College. As I auditioned and began booking roles, I also tapped into my background as an English major and love for the written word and began writing as a flexible day job. Instead of screenwriting, I wrote for publications like Thrillist, Time Out, and KCET, covering restaurants, events, and travel.
My food writing led me to a job as a food tour guide with the company Six Taste, a job I never would have thought to pursue, let alone knew existed. As a food tour guide, I could combine my passions for food, history, and storytelling. I took locals and visitors on an insider’s walking tour of various L.A. neighborhoods and introduced them to new flavors and secrets of the city. I also co-developed a bicycle-based adventure tour, Mojo Maps, with former Disney Imagineer Chris Eng, showing guests the hidden corners of the city and challenging them to tap into their creativity.
My writing and tour guiding then opened the door to the next opportunity of becoming an author when I was introduced to the publisher Reedy Press. My first book, “100 Things to Do in Los Angeles Before You Die,” highlighted the essential experiences and places to explore in L.A. After the success of the first book, I was invited to write “Secret Los Angeles: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure,” which digs into the fun, quirky, and hidden gems of the city and county.
My latest book, “Los Angeles Scavenger,” is a scavenger hunt of 22 neighborhoods, which invites readers to find iconic local landmarks using rhyming clues and original photos. Writing the clues allowed me to incorporate my background both in writing and acting, particularly in Shakespeare’s plays, as they are rhyming couplets written mostly in iambic pentameter. It felt like a wonderful full-circle moment.
I’ve since joined the board of the Los Angeles City Historical Society, in large part a result of writing the books, and was appointed as the Programs Chair, responsible for planning events. The position allows me to connect with other individuals and organizations who are also enthusiastic about learning and sharing the history of Los Angeles, a city I have been entranced by since I moved here.
Again, I never could have foreseen the path I took to get here, so I highly recommend trusting your gut and saying “yes” when new opportunities present themselves. Finding your purpose comes from trying new things, exploring new paths, meeting new people, and not being afraid to take a chance.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m the author of multiple guidebooks about Los Angeles and the programs chair on the Board of the Los Angeles City Historical Society. I’ve written and taken photos for numerous local and national publications, and have been featured regularly as a guest on California Live, Good Day LA, KTLA, and other news shows. I’m also the Managing Editor for Cheapism, a publication dedicated to highlighting budget-friendly food, travel, and shopping advice. I love having the opportunity to explore and share the fascinating history, hidden gems, and delicious food of Los Angeles and beyond with readers, viewers, and those who attend my events in person. It’s exciting to introduce both visitors and longtime locals to all of the amazing places and stories that L.A. has to offer, and I’m always learning more myself as I go along. With my books and events, I hope people can gain a deeper appreciation for the city and encourage them to explore it with fresh eyes.
My latest book, “Los Angeles Scavenger,” invites readers to search for iconic landmarks in neighborhoods across L.A. The rhyming clues offer a fun challenge to not only explore neighborhoods that you’re unfamiliar with but also get to know your favorite areas even better. The book offers something for everyone, whether you’ve recently arrived in L.A. or have lived here for decades. As with my other books, it also offers a great way to shake up your routine and have a fun activity on hand when family and friends visit.
You can order signed copies of all my books through my website, secretlosangelesbook.com or find them at bookstores across Los Angeles.
Keep an eye out for upcoming events for my books and with the Los Angeles City Historical Society.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think three of my most important qualities or skills are my curiosity, my enthusiasm, and my ability to listen. All of these have not only helped to shape and develop my career but have also helped me grow as a person.
I’ve always been curious about the world around me and sought to learn more about people and places I encounter. Whether that involves talking to strangers on the street to hear their stories, exploring new hidden corners of a city to find a delicious meal, or taking a deep dive to read about the history of an ingredient, I’m always on a quest to learn more — particularly when it comes to food and the ways it connects and shapes us. That curiosity drives me to research and write, always on the lookout for a fascinating new story.
My curiosity is often driven by my enthusiasm for life, learning, and the people I encounter. That enthusiasm not only pushes me to eagerly dig deeper to learn more, but to also happily share what I’ve learned with others so that they can gain a new perspective on the world. My enthusiasm is also tied to my optimism as I’m often hopeful and excited about what my explorations and research will uncover. I love learning about history, but I also love finding out how it connects us as individuals in the present, and how it can lead to deeper empathy and understanding in the future.
Being a good listener is also a skill that I’ve been told I possess and something that I’ve actively tried to cultivate. I’m always interested in hearing other people’s stories and learning about what brings them joy and what challenges they’ve overcome. Interviewing someone for an article or a book requires not only developing thoughtful questions that allow them to open up but also truly listening to their responses and allowing the interview to evolve organically. The interview subject may respond in a way you never expected, and it’s important to hear that shift and follow up in a way that leads to discoveries in the conversation.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’d love to collaborate with individuals and organizations who are equally as excited about celebrating the history, culture, and hidden gems of Los Angeles with an even wider audience. Whether that’s developing events or programs that utilize my books and my work with the Los Angeles City Historical Society or creating video and multimedia projects that uncover the secrets of the city and beyond. I’ve had experience on-camera and in production, so I think there could be some great opportunities to explore there as well. I’d also love to collaborate with a chef or restaurant on a cookbook, particularly one that explores food culture and history.
Anyone interested in working together can reach me at danny@lacityhistory.org or through Instagram @dannysjensen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://secretlosangelesbook.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannysjensen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dannyseamus/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensendanny/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dannyseamus
Image Credits
Headshot Credit: Lynn Millspaugh All other images: Danny Jensen
